Latest Area News Headlines

SLAYTON— Medical staff has been leaving in droves, and now the CEO has resigned from the Murray County Medical Center.

From a news release issued by Davis Communications Management: “Murray County Medical Center's chief executive officer, Meldon Snow, formally left his position effective Friday, March 14. The hospital's seven member board accepted Snow's resignation and will be launching a search for his replacement.”

“We appreciate Mel’s years of service to our community. The Board will begin the search for a new CEO immediately,” said hospital board chair Bob Moline.

SIBLEY, Iowa – The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help after receiving two burglary complaints early Saturday.

The first complaint was reported at 5 a.m., and came from Pete’s Bar in Ashton, Iowa. A second burglary complaint was called in to the sheriff’s office around 6:30 p.m. It came from Jake’s Meat Market in Sibley, Iowa.

Both incidents, authorities believe, happened sometime Friday night or in the early morning hours Saturday.

Officials said the two burglaries appear to be related, but are still under investigation.

BREWSTER – The Brewster Fire Department responded around 1 p.m. Thursday to a report of a ditch on fire between Highway 35 and 790th Street. Mutual aid was requested from Round Lake when firefighters from Brewster arrived at the scene and found a pile of burning hay bales. Eyewitness reports state a truck loaded with smoldering bales had stopped on the road and offloaded the bales into the ditch before leaving the scene.

LUVERNE – A sinkhole in the middle of a busy intersection is causing traffic issues in Luverne. The Rock County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging motorists to find an...

WORTHINGTON – According to Worthington Mayor Al Oberloh, concerns about the health and safety of the Northland Mall have progressed from beyond the old K-Mart portion of the building to the commons area and throughout the building.

“The conditions of the mall have failed greatly,” Oberloh said. “Now that spring is coming, we’re very concerned about mold issues; we’re concerned about all the water on the floor. That it’s going to be a ‘slip and fall’ situation.”

Inside the mall, the steady drip, drip, drip of water can be heard as water falls from the ceiling into a variety of...

WORTHINGTON – During a continued meeting Wednesday evening, the Worthington City Council offered their support of the Nobles Housing Initiative, a tax abatement program meant to encourage the building of new housing. The Nobles County Commissioners have already approved the concept, and the school board will make a decision next week.

Abraham Algadi of the Worthington Regional Economic Development Corp will work with his staff and those of the entities to work out language and details, then bring it back to the entities for approval.

WORTHINGTON – Worthington’s District 518 School Board was the latest to hear the Nobles Housing Initiative, presented by Abraham Algadi of the Worthington Regional Economic Development Corp. The initiative is a program designed to solve the housing crunch so prevalent in the area by offering 100 percent tax abatement to new housing construction for a five-year period.

Algadi presented the idea to the Nobles County Commissioners, who approved the concept and asked the WREDC staff to work with their own on details. When the presentation was made to the Worthington City Council, there...

WORTHINGTON – The lack of a quorum kept the Worthington City Council from any action Monday night, but the members present listened to a presentation by Worthington Regional Economic Development Corp Director Abraham Algadi regarding the Nobles Housing Initiative.

The Initiative would offer 100 percent tax abatement on new residential construction from the county, city and school district. Last week, the Nobles County Board of Commissioners approved the concept of the plan, and are now waiting for Algadi’s office to work out details for their approval.

WORTHINGTON – The King’s Wok Chinese Restaurant is facing an estimated $150,000 in damages after a fire that was reported just before 3 a.m. Saturday morning. The Worthington Fire Department was called to the scene after a witness reported seeing smoke coming from the roof.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, flames were already coming through the roof of the building.

Worthington Fire Department Second Assistant Chief Chris Cummings believes the blaze may have started near the women’s restroom or a small meeting room.

MINNESOTA – According to Sen. Bill Weber, a bill will be formally introduced to the
Minnesota Legislation Monday requesting $69 million in bonding money for completion of the Minnesota portion of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Pipeline. This money is necessary due to the failure of the federal government to carry through on its commitment to this project, Weber said. Future appropriations from the federal government would go to pay the state back for these funds. Weber said he has bipartisan co-signers on this bill and Representatives Rod Hamilton and Joe Schomacker are handling the...